What to Do when You Find a Lost Dog

You may have found a lost dog, and would like to reunite him with his owner, but you're not sure what to do.

By following a few tips, you may be able to reunite a lost dog with a very grateful owner.

Stay Safe

If you've found a dog that's sick or injured, he may behave unpredictably, so don't make any sudden moves that might provoke him to bite you, or run into traffic. If the dog appears threatening, stay clear of him, and call Animal Control.

Even if he seems friendly, use caution when you approach him, as you still run the risk of being bitten. Any size dog can inflict a painful bite, and if you can't find out if he's been vaccinated, you may have to undergo rabies treatment, which is very painful, and can be expensive.

Speak in a calm voice as you approach the dog. Keep yourself in his line of vision, and try to get him to come to you by offering him food morsels.

I.D. Tag/Tattoo

Check for identification information on the I.D. tag around the dog's neck. If he has an identifying tattoo, it may be inside the ear, or on his inner legs.

Newspaper Lost and Found

Scan the lost and found ads in your local newspaper. Even if the ad doesn't seem to fit the breed of the dog that you've found, call the phone number anyway. It might surprise you how many people who have found lost pets, and placed found dog ads, don't list the breed correctly.

Shelter

By law, you must turn over a lost dog to an animal shelter, where their owner can come to claim them. Many people think that if they take a dog to the shelter that he will be euthanized immediately. If you don't want to take the dog to the shelter, most shelters will allow you to provide the dog a foster home, as long as you fill out a found report that has a description of the dog, where you found him and your address and phone number. You may also want to create a FOUND DOG flyer, and have the shelter post it on their bulletin board. If the owner calls the shelter looking for their lost dog, the shelter can give them your contact information.

Microchip

Bring the dog to a veterinary office and have him scanned for a microchip. These tiny computer chips contain identification information, which when injected under the dog's skin, will provide permanent identification. An animal shelter will usually be able to scan for a microchip also.